METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY ~ HOO YOU LOOKIN AT??

Welcome to Metamorphosis Monday! A big thank you to our very talented and clever host, Susan of Between Naps On The Porch!

If you haven't already been over to her lovely blog, pop over, say hello and leave your well wishes as she's celebrating her 1st Blogoversary! Also, you can spend a few minutes visiting the other creative posts!

I really don't have a preference for a particular season. What I most treasure is the uniqueness of each season and the way in which Mother Nature morphs from one season to the next.

As much as I love summer, fall is rapidly approaching. The colors are shifting from breezy, bright summer colors to warm, earthy fall colors. My mind has been full of Autumn's glory; rust, orange, reds, mustard yellow, mutued greens. I took some of these....

a few of these.....

wired in some of these.....

mixed in some of these....

added a couple of these....

some sparkle here and there....

and voila!

As is always the case, the photo doesn't do the warm rich colors justice. It is so much prettier in person. I'm planning on getting a booth at an upcoming festival here in the SF bay area, so I'm spending the next couple of weeks getting my inventory ready.

Right now, I'm taking a break so that I can view the other clever and fabulous transformation posted by the other participants for Susan's 31st Metamorphosis Monday! Come along with us! You'll get loads of inspiration! Everyone is always welcome!

Thanks for visiting me! It is always so wonderful to hear from you!

Hugs,

BEVERLY'S PINK SATURDAY ~ QUIRKY ROSES & GODZILLA THE SQUIRREL

Happy Pink Saturday everyone! Thank you so much to our fabulous Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for hosting!

If you haven't already, do wander over to Beverly's blog and say hello. Get comfy and enjoy all the fabulous pinks the other wonderful and clever participants have posted.

I love, Love, LOVE, roses! Since I have no real yard to speak of, I have a modest container garden. We have three containers full of roses. One in particular is a bit quirky, in a good way.

When I first bought it, the roses were a beautiful sherbet color. Now, before you skip down to the photo, let me clue you in it's quirkiness...it chooses it's own color. Sometimes the buds are pink and bloom orange sherbet, sometimes orange buds, pink blooms; you pick a variation between the two colors, it's likely this rose bush will do it.

This bud started out peach and now.....

directly beneath this pink rose...

is this peachy pink rose...

love this shot, see the peach bud on the left behind the pink bloom....

I don't know the name of it. If you do, please clue me in. Seeing it today, you'd never guess that back in May, that rose bush (among others) was nearly destroyed. Was it insects? Inclement weather? Vanadals? Well.....I'm sure some of you have seen this photo in a previous post...

That's no cutie pie. That's the mean, nasty, dasterly, ruthless flower killer, Godzilla the Squirrel. Godzilla is soooo fat because it's been feasting in it's personal smorgasborg...our container plants! After it finished off our roses and geraniums, Godzilla started in on the impatients, see the uneven growth on the top...

That menace had to be stopped! We decided to declared war. Our weapon of choice, cat hair and the garden hose. After grooming Da Queen of Da House, instead of throwing out the cat hair, I'd spread it around the patio and inside the containers. When we caught sight of Godzilla, we'd turn the hose on it. The battle raged on for 3 weeks. Then it seems Godzilla has retreated and gone off to find another garden to pillage...here is the impatients in July...

did you notice how nicely it is growing back? And here is a photo I took the other day...

As you've already seen, the roses are growing back nicely as well. I'm sad to report that the geraniums aren't doing as well as they were before Godzilla came along.

Now, if you have any of Godzilla the Squirrels relations ravaging your birdfeeders, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch came up with a brilliant weapon! (She's so clever!) Check out her post here.

That's it for today! I'm off to see what the other fabulous participants have posted for Beverly's Pink Saturday! Everyone is always welcome! Do join us, won't you!?

Hugs & kisses!

FEATHERED FRIENDS BLOG PARTY ~ BIRDS OF A FEATHER....

I don't know about anyone else, but I had a heck of a time getting this post together. What in the world is going on with Blogger? It's impossible to load your dashboard. Took me forever to get this post together. Arghhh! "Taking deep breaths" I'm here now that is all that matters! Get on with it, Tina!

Thank you so much to Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for hosting this event. If you aren't participating, no worries, you are more than welcome to view all the wonderful Feathered Friends photos posted by the participants.

I didn't realize how many feathered friends elements I have around my tiny home. I was kinda thinking...gee I must like our fine feathered friends ha!
Of course I have tons of birdhouses that I have mosaic'ed. I put a few together in a collage, or should I say, a mosaic of a few my mosaic birdhouses.....

I love the birdcage I recently finished. The focal of the roof is a lovely cameo of 2 doves...

I have at least 25 birdhouses overall that are already primed and read for me to mosaic; here are just a few (some are still wrapped up in brown paper)....

I have 4 of these left...

and this next one I'm keeping for me! ha!

I love the little mailbox by this side door. I havent' decided what I want to do with it yet, but that roof color is not staying! ha! I have birdies and birdhouses on my hutch...

I just have to show you a closeup of the birdhouse on left, it's got this great rusty, scrolly railing and balcony....

I have birdie teapots on the shelf....

my quackers and birdie napkin rings....

birdie S&P (yep the dynamic target duo, I bought 2 sets)...

A cute pair I found thrifting....

I have a large oil on canvas painting of Swans on my wall (my sister painted it)....

And I have a birdhouse on a tree....

Do not awww at that squirrel on top of the birdhouse! He's NOT cute...he's the sneaky, dasterly rose bush and flower killer. He's worse than Godzilla! Squirrels are no different than rats; they just have better outfits!

And of course, I have birdies adorning Christmas wreaths; here is one I did in bronze n gold (sorry for the lousy photo). Ever notice how wreaths always look prettier in real life than in photos? See the 3 birdies?.....

Since the holidays are rapidly approaching, I'm sure you will see more my creations!

Well, it's not all of my fine feathered friends, but I think I've shown enough for one day! ha!

Be sure to stop by Gina's to venture on to view the other Feathered Friends post!

Ciao Bellas!

TWO FABULOUS GIVEAWAYS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS!!

Don't you just love those fabulous burlap pillows? I am crazy for them! (I adore the "Reves Doux" pillow!) The burlap pillows shown in the photo are created by Michelle at Petie Coterie. She has a online shop, here and also an Etsy Shop, here. The photo is courtesy of Petit Coterie.

You have 2 chances to win one of her fabulous creations!

Michelle is having a fabulous giveaway called "Show Me Your Creativity..." If you are the winner, you will win a new creation she is currently working on. Click here for more details!

Leeann of Fabulously French is having a "Fabulous Burlap Giveaway". She will be giving away one of Michelle's amazing burlap pillows! click here for all the details!

Good luck everyone!

PINK SATURDAY ~ YOU ARE MARVELOUS!

Happy Pink Saturday everyone! Thank you so much to our fabulous Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for hosting!

If you haven't already, do wander over to Beverly's blog and say hello. Then grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy all the fabulous pinks the other wonderful and clever participants have posted.

When I started blogging a couple of months ago, I had no idea what a delightful experience it would be. I have met so many wonderful, caring, talented, sweet, thoughtful, and very clever people! Even more surprising is that so many of you have found my blunderings and blathering worth following. I am truly humbled.

I thought it was about time, dear hearts.....

...that I tell you how wonderfully sweet and beautiful you are.....

for taking the time to visit me. I cherish your visit and want you to know how much I love reading your comments.

I feel like Sally Fields the night she won..."You like me! You really like me!" ha!

Thank you so very much for your interest, your support and your thoughtfulness.

I'm off to see what the other fabulous participants have posted for Beverly's Pink Saturday! C'mon along! Everyone is always welcome!

Hugs & kisses!

BROKEN CHINA MOSAIC "HOW TO" ADDED ~ GROUTING 101

I have finally finished the detailed instructions on grouting! Woohoo! I have added it to my How To's page. You can view the How To Grout Your Mosaic Surface here.

As always, you can access my How To's by click on the How To's collage located at the top of the left side margin (under the clock), that will take you to the table of contents.

I always stress that it is best to start small. A lazy susan is inexpensive and ideal. You can also try a small wooden tray. Believe me, you will learn much from the experience and be more confident when you tackle your more cherished piece.

I know there is quite a bit of information there. Please do not feel intimitaded by it. Most are helpful hints. Once you get started, you will quickly develop your own methods and practices. It truly is easier in practice than on paper, or in this case...monitor. ha!

My objective in offering this information is to assist you in creating an heirloom piece; one that you will be proud to have made; one that will be cherished and last for many years to come.

At the very least, you will be more aware of what to look for if you are considering purchasing a mosaic piece. As I've said many times before, your hand will be the best judge of quality in the craftsmanship of the piece.

As you glide your hand across the surface of the mosaic, it should feel good to the touch. If it is rough, uneven, jagged or sharp, your hand will let you know instantly.

If there is something I may have overlooked or a topic you would like more information on, please do not hesitate to ask.

Good luck and happy creating!